Improvement in tremolo attachment for melodeons



UNITED STATES PATENT CEEIGE.,

R. W. CARPENTER, 0F BRATTLEBOROUGH, VERMONT.

IMPROVEMENT IN TREMOLO ATTACHMENT FOR MELODEONS, &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 65,472, dated June 4, 1867.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RILEY W. CARPENTER, of Brattleborough, in the county of Windham and State of Vermont, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tremolo Attachments to Melodeons, and other wind instruments of like character, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure l represents a plan of the interior of a melodeon, in part, with my improvement applied thereto; Fig. 2, a vertical transverse section thereof, through the line :v win Fig. l, and Fig. 3 a similar view through the line z z in Fig. l.

Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures.

Though apparently simple, practical experience has proved to me that to secure an effective tremolo attachment to melodeons and other Wind instruments of like character is a matter of no little diiiiculty. In some cases a mere revolving Hutter-wheel may suce to produce an agitation of the air in its passage to or through the reeds; but in many or most instances this has not that decided character which it is desirable to give to produce a proper tremor.

The nature of my present invention in this connection consists in the employment of a rotary valve or swell of a cut-off form, and preferably arranged within the main swell, but which may be otherwise arranged, and is applicable to blast as well as suction, in or by which a rapidly intermittent cut-oft in contradistinction to a mere agitation of the airis produced at the pleasure of the-performer on operating a suitable stop to set in motion such tremolo attachment.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which represents my improvement as applied to a melodeon operated by suction in the place of by forcing bellows, A may be supposed to represent the case or frame of the instrument, with the top removed 5 B, the suction-chamber or air'receiver; C, the reeds 5 D, the reed valve or valves operated by the key or keys E through push-pins in the usual manner.

F G are strips or frame-Work forming, in connection With a cover or valve shown in red lines, and acted upon by a suitable stop, the main or ordinary swell of the instrument, Within which I prefer to arrange the tremolovalve, though this is not imperative, as, to similarly control the current, it may be situated within or over a separate chamber suitably arranged in relation to the reeds to produce a tremolo action.

This tremolo-valve H I prefer to make a rotary swell of cut-o character, having a passage, c, or it may be more than one passage through it, and so situated in relation to the chamber, in or over the mouth of which it is arranged, as, on being revolved, it will have a rapidly intermittent cut-oft' action on the current to produce the tremolo, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Such rotary valve or swell may extend the whole length of the scale, or only partially so, and in its action the effect, as it will be perceived, is of a distinct or decided character, producing positive pulsations, which the mere agitation ofthe air by a Wheel or other like device does not accomplish, the swell or valve here described not being an agitation, but a rapidly intermittent cut-off to the air or current operating on the reed when uncovered by the action of the key.

Various devices might be employed for controlling and giving the requisite rotary motion to the tremolo-valve, whether constructed as described, or otherwise 5 but the following will be found a simple and efficient means for the purpose:

I is a fan or other wheel, arranged Within a box or chamber, J, through which, on opening a stop or valve, d, worked by, or through, any suitable attachment from the exterior, a current of air is made to iow, and in its passage caused to act on the wheel I, so as to rotate it, and with it the tremolo-valve, to which it is or may be attached by a shaft, e.

By this means, not only may the tremolo be put on or shut oirn at pleasure, but, by more or less opening the stop d, its velocity or extent of the tremor regulated to the greatest nicety.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The attachment to a melodeon, or other wind instrument of like character, of a rotary tremolo valve or swell, constructed to form an intermittent cut-oit' to the current, and arranged to control the same in its action on the reeds, substantially as specified.

R. W. CARPENTER.

Witnesses:

L. G. MEAD, y J osEPE STEERs 

